K'taka govt unveils 'Unnati' scheme to help entrepreneurs from

Karnataka Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge Saturday said the state government, under the Unnati scheme, will invest up to Rs 20 crore to create end-to-end support infrastructure for startups and entrepreneurs from a marginalised background.

The government, under the scheme, will identify the problems dogging society and solve them by identifying companies, working on products and solutions for related problems, he said here.

"The Social Welfare department will invest up to Rs 20 crore to create end-to-end support infrastructure for startups and entrepreneurs from a marginalised background. This will be done under Unnati scheme," Kharge said.

This has been done with the renewed focus on entrepreneurship and with an aim to deliver sustainable development and social welfare which will identify, mentor, and promote young entrepreneurs from the SC/ST communities, he added.

The scheme will identify and promote entrepreneurs from SC and ST background as they have been denied chance to innovate, he said.

He also said the department will provide up to Rs 50 lakh to winning entrepreneurs to develop tech-based solutions that are innovative, novel and have meaningful social impact.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said often technological innovations reach the SC and ST communities and other vulnerable sections quite late.

"Historically oppressed and marginalised, hardworking and brilliant young entrepreneurs from these communities suffer due to lack of access to capital, networks, and markets. The Unnati scheme will help them overcome this problem," he said.

He also invited the industry and other stakeholders to join the government in taking technology and development to all parts of the State.